Gary Vaynerchuk doesn’t market, he jabs. He doesn’t use spin, he tells it like it is. He doesn’t just have an audience, he has the ‘Vayner-Nation’.

With over a million followers on Twitter, a collection of best-selling books, a media company, and an agency that manages top social media personalities, Vaynerchuk has established himself as one of the most prominent and influential individuals on the web. But more than that, he’s living proof of the impact and opportunities that come from building a strong personal brand.

Authenticity is major part of why he’s has been so successful at developing his personal brand. You don’t have to dive far into his social media presence to see that Vaynerchuk is far from the typical media guru. Despite his enormous online presence, he regularly voices his uncensored and outspoken opinions on a broad range of topics.

While he undeniably loses a few followers every time he makes an opinionated statement, he also exponentially adds to his loyal and passionate following.

But before Gary could build his strong personal brand and the loyal audience that came with it, he spent nearly a decade dedicated to becoming an expert in his field — digital media. Only then did he start hustling to build a personal brand that has established him as an authority in his industry.

“It stuns me that people keep asking about how to start a personal brand … without having a clear understanding of what comes before that, which is actually knowing something about something.” — Gary Vaynerchuk, Medium

Gary doesn’t advocate that everyone put the same emphasis on personal branding that he has. But, he stands firmly behind the belief that, in our constantly connected world, everyone should tell their story and own what makes them unique.

Developing a strong personal brand and establishing yourself as an authority on topics you’re passionate about is the most effective way to build a lasting career doing what you love. Pursue your passions to the best of your ability and share your successes with the world. It’s never too late to start building your brand. As Vaynerchuk says in his book, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook:

“No matter what you do, your job is to tell your story.”

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